The apartment themselves were perfectly fine. The staff is friendly and helpful, the location is nice, I enjoyed my time living there. Except one little thing.
I cannot express this clearly enough. If you sign a contract with them, state clearly and plainly that you are not interested in automatically renewing your apartment lease. Write it on a piece of paper, and give it to the property management. It doesn't have to be notarized, just trust me, don't make the mistake I did.
I forgot to
...cancel this automatic renewal and now I've been paying for an apartment that I don't even live in anymore. I can't even get a key for the place. I have published ads on multiple websites and have directed 37 people (at the time of writing) towards the office as potential renters. I am not claiming that there is any malice whatsoever on the behalf of the apartment complex, but having some kid pay for an apartment that will go untouched seems like a much better deal than having someone else come in and possibly damage it by living there.
At the time of writing, it has been on the market for at least 3 months. Three months of which they state no one is interested in renting apartments. The three months of summer where all of the new students flood into a college town for school. Again, I'm not claiming intentional malice, but it seems like they aren't even trying.
I get it. I messed up. I was issued a proper notification and I didn't get around to it. I'm not blaming my problems on them. I'm just trying to help other people out from getting in the same situation that I'm in.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT assume that the apartment complex cares about you or your situation. They are a business, plain and simple, and they will rely on predatory real estate tactics like automatic renewal contracts in order to make an extra buck.
I mean it, write it down on a piece of paper after you sign rental contract - "I am not interested in automatically renewing my lease" and tie it up with a bow in the form of your signature and the date.
Besides that, the apartment was honestly great and I enjoyed living there.
Oh, and one time someone stole my package in the mail, tried to turn it into the office, and then the office said they couldn't hold it for me, so they let the guy walk away with it. This resulted in me losing a rather valuable item in the mail and no one from the office could remember who it was who took it.
Max of 2. up to 2 pets, combined max weight of 50 lbs. Add'l deposit.